Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal
by Shubha Majumder | 2017 | 147,217 words
This page relates ‘Caubisi type of Shantinatha Sculpture’ of the study on the Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal based on the fields of Geography, Archaeology, Art and Iconography. Jainism represents a way of life incorporating non-violence and approaches religion from humanitarian viewpoint. Ancient Bengal comprises modern West Bengal and the Republic of Bangladesh, Eastern India. Here, Jainism was allowed to flourish from the pre-Christian times up until the 10th century CE, along with Buddhism.
Caubisi type of Śāntinātha Sculpture
[Full title: Images of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha (2): Caubisi type of Śāntinātha Sculpture]
Only one damaged and weathered image of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha was reported from Suisa (Chakrabarti 1993: 126). Unfortunately the head of this image is missing (Pl.XXVII.F) and the remaining portion of the image is measures 75 x 37 x 12 cm. The svelte figure of the Jain is elegantly carved. Only fourteen miniature Tīrthaṅkaras are presently visible (in three vertical rows in left side of Jain and four vertical rows in the right side of the Jain and two miniature Jain in the each row) at the edges of the back-slab on a projected frame. Like the principal image, they also stand in kāyotsarga posture on a lotus pedestal depicting their respective lāñchanas. At both the end of the rows the figures of Yakṣa and Yakṣiṇī of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha i.e., Kiṃpuruṣa and Mahāmānasī are depicts. Thoug this fitures are not commonly visible in the Jain art style of this area including the ancient Bengal also.
The mūla-nāyaka stands on a double-petalled lotus placed on a pañca-ratha pedestal and the pedestal of the image has rich carvings. Both ends of the pedestal bear the figures of rampant lions and at the center a wheel with nine spokes is carved. The wheel is flanked by deer on both the side, the lāñchana of Tīrthaṅkara Śāntinātha.